From left, Maria Jones, Ward 5 councilwoman; Marie Carrubba, Ward 4 councilwoman; Pedro Vazquez, Spring Street resident; George Spitale, At-Large councilman; Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor; Anthony Dolce, Ward 2 councilman; Donald Paine, Spring Street resident; Tom Nelson, Ward 6 councilman; Victoria James, Ward 3 councilwoman; Ronald Reichardt, Spring Street resident; and Darlene Pangborn, Spring Street resident; with one of the “Make Our Neighborhood Great Again” signs. Paine said he has 250 signs he is willing to give to neighborhood residents who want to make their neighborhood great again. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

If a slogan helped a candidate get elected to the Oval Office, Spring Street resident Donald Paine hopes it will work to revitalize his neighborhood.

On Thursday, Donald Paine invited city residents and officials to his home on Spring Street to “Make Our Neighborhood Great Again.” Paine has taken the slogan, with a slight twist, used by President Donald Trump to advocate for Spring Street neighborhood improvements, which he said can be started with the development of the Jackson Spring apartment complex.

Paine is calling on state officials to approve the $12 million in funding that the developers for the apartment and housing complex — Citizen’s Opportunity for Development & Equality Inc. and The NRP Group — have applied for from the state Division of Homes and Community Renewal.

For 17 years, Paine has lived along Spring Street near the Crossman Street intersection. He has had neighborhood problems with drugs, slumlords and poor conditioned streets. He said the Jackson Spring apartment complex can start the revitalization of his street. He added the apartment complex will lead to more lighting, street improvements and security cameras for the neighborhood.

Paine said the Jackson Spring apartment complex will not only help Spring Street residents, but will also assist North Main Street, Prendergast Avenue and Lakeview Avenue residents. As part of the project, several vacant and condemned houses will be demolished.

Paine said there are four houses across the street from where he lives that need to be knocked down. He said at the average cost of $30,000 per a demolish, the $120,000 expense to tear down those houses will be paid for with state funding if the project is approved. If the Jackson Spring apartment complex is not approved, the city will be responsible for the expense of demolishing the vacant and condemned houses.

The Jackson Spring project is being planned to be constructed along North Main and Spring streets that will include two complexes. One building will have 36 units, with 28 one bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments. Across the street will be the second complex, which will be seven town houses, five with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms.

The apartment complex will also be the new home to Southwestern Independent Living Center. The Southwestern Independent Living Center provides services throughout Chautauqua County that assists individuals with disabilities to reach maximum independence to improve their quality of life. CODE will also be working with the Chautauqua Blind Association to assist the visually impaired with housing at the proposed facility.

Darlene Pangborn, Spring Street resident, said she will be starting a Facebook page for Make Our Neighborhood Great Again for those who want to get involved.

Seven members of Jamestown City Council, city administrators, development officials and housing code officers attended the Spring Street community meeting. Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, said the key to any neighborhood revitalization is support from the people and property owners in the neighborhood.

“Real lasting neighborhood revitalization is driven by neighbors,” he said. “We’re happy to be standing here with you today.”